DUDOK QUARTET & PIETER WISPELWEY

Masterful practitioners when it comes to playing the core quartet repertoire, Amsterdam-based Dudok aren’t shy of swimming in less familiar waters too. 
On this occasion, they’re joined by brilliant Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey for a concert which features works by Dowland (Lachrimae or Seven Tears), Mozart (String Quartet No21 in D major, K575 ‘Prussian’) and Schubert (String Quintet in C major, D956). 

Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, Friday 20 March  

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WORCESTER FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY

Worcester Festival Choral Society’s 140 voices take on the challenge of arguably the mightiest of all choral spectaculars: Mendelssohn’s Elijah. They are joined for the occasion by four talented soloists and the Meridian Sinfonia orchestra.
Worcester Cathedral’s director of music, Samuel Hudson, is the conductor.

Worcester Cathedral, Saturday 21 March

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THE PHOENIX SINGERS

Performing a repertoire that encompasses a wide variety of music, Shrewsbury-based chamber choir The Phoenix Singers are this month marking their 60th anniversary with a performance of Bach’s St John Passion. Although more modest in its conception than the composer’s epic St Matthew Passion, the work is highly regarded for containing some of the most beautiful and lyrical moments of Bach’s entire output. Mark Dobell of The Sixteen takes on the role of the Evangelist. Noxwode Baroque, on period instruments, also contribute. 

The Abbey, Shrewsbury, Saturday 21 March 

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BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY: A SEA SYMPHONY

Leamington Chamber Orchestra here team up with Birmingham Festival Choral Society to present a performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony. 
The concert programme also features Charles Villiers Stanford’s Songs Of The Fleet, a song cycle celebrating Britain’s strong naval tradition. 

Image credit: Michael Whitefoot

All Saints Church, Leamington Spa, Saturday 21 March

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STRATFORD UPON AVON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Founded more than 60 years ago, the Stratford-upon-Avon Symphony Orchestra present programmes of music from the 17th through to the 20th century. 
Their programme for this latest concert sees them performing the music of Brahms, Dvorak, Mozart and Glazunov. 

Greig Hall, Alcester, Sunday 22 March

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RICHARD STRAUSS SPECTACULAR

Now here’s a concert with a difference,  featuring, as it does, original choreography designed to bring a visual dimension to the music. 
The Birmingham-based Kimichi Symphony Orchestra - which last spring enjoyed a major Symphony Hall hit with Igor Stravinsky’s Diaghilev ballets - here returns to the venue to present an afternoon concert featuring three Richard Strauss masterpieces: Till Eulenspiegel, Tod und Verklarung, and Ein Heldenleben. The first two of the three compositions will be re-imagined through a cultural-fusion collaboration with the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company.

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sunday 22 March

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THOMAS TROTTER AND GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR

Organist Thomas Trotter has performed with a host of revered conductors and appeared alongside many of the world’s leading orchestras. Thomas was appointed Birmingham City Organist in 1983, and remains one of the country’s most acclaimed musicians. He is here joined by Gloucester Cathedral Choir to perform Fauré’s Requiem, in a concert to mark Easter Week.

Birmingham Town Hall, Monday 23 March

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ARMONICO CONSORT: ST MATTHEW PASSION

Founded 25 years ago by organist and conductor Christopher Monks, and using authentic period instruments, Warwick-based baroque consort Armonico this month turn their talents to the task of performing St Matthew Passion. 
A favourite at Easter, Bach’s dramatic telling of the Passion of Christ continues to be among classical music’s most profound experiences. Christopher Monks takes the reins for both performances.

Malvern Theatres, Worcestershire, Tuesday 24 March; Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, Thursday 26 March

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BBC PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Residing at the Corporation’s Manchester home of Media City, the BBC Philharmonic visits the Potteries late this month in the company of soloist Senja Rummukainen, who will be performing Dvorak’s ever-popular Cello Concerto. The programme also features Debussy’s L’après-midi d’un faune and Mozart’s Prague symphony. 
Lucie LeGuay (pictured) is the conductor. 

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 27 March

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BIRMINGHAM GAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Bringing together musicians from across the Midlands, the well-established Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra here takes its audience on ‘a sweeping journey from Beethoven’s Ruins Of Athens Overture to Sibelius’ glorious Symphony No2’. Sandwiched in-between these much-admired works is a performance of Ney Rosauro’s Marimba Concerto No1. 
The composition will be performed by soloist Andrew Woolcock, a former BBC Young Musician of the Year winner.

St Paul’s Church, Birmingham, Saturday 28 March  

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TAN DUN & THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a concert which no self-respecting classical music enthusiast would want to miss.

The London Philharmonic are here performing to the baton of Tan Dun (pictured), whose CV includes the Academy Award-winning soundtrack to Ang Lee’s year-2000 martial-arts film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon... 

And the concert programme makes this late-afternoon event an even more mouthwatering prospect. Alongside Beethoven’s visionary Ninth Symphony, the orchestra will also perform Tan Dun’s brand-new choral concerto, Nine. A tribute to Beethoven, the work combines ancient poetry from China and Europe, creating an ‘ode to peace’ which has been described as ‘worthy of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy’ (the fourth and final movement of the Ninth Symphony).

The London Philharmonic Choir and London Chinese Philharmonic Choir also make telling contributions to the concert, as do four talented soloists: Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Hongni Wu (mezzo-soprano), John Findon (tenor) and Dingle Yandell (bass).      

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 29 March